Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-09
LIME AS A FERTILIZER.
A Pennsylvania Farmers Account OF TIN
Effects OF Its Use.

Effects OF Its Use.
In this part of the country lime is the
principal fertilizer outside of barnyard
manure. AS the soil is naturally very
thin we have to use something from
the word ''go'' to keep up the fertility.
I think there is nothing that will, for
the same outlay of money, give as much
in return. If land is properly made up
with lime, and then properly farmed,
no one will ever live to see it need any
more. Last summer a neighbor called
my attention to a narrow strip across
one of his oat fields which was three or
four inches taller than the rest, and
explained that the cause of it was sit
had small coat of lime fifty-two years
ago." and yet it showed on every crop
to the present time. If the land OH
which it is applied is extremely poor
and there is no sod, it should always
have a little manure to put on with it
to give the lime something to work on.
1t is rather slow in its work. You sell
dom ever see any benefit from its use
till you SOW in clover and then break
up the sod. And then there is no crop,
at least none raised here, on which it is
not very beneficial. Low clay ground
that is naturally wet and cold, unless
perfectly underdrained, is a poor place
for lime. 1t shows much the best on
high, dry, gravely soils. If low wet
ground is plowed when not in proper
order on account of moisture, where
lime has been used, it seems to destroy
it's effects entirely. Here is mistake
many farmers make. Because a neigh.
Dor who has high land can pillow, they
will too, even if the water runs after
them in the furrow.
When lime is properly applied its eff
feet on the soil is something sim liar tc
yeast in dough for bread. 1t seems to
give it life and make it light and mel
low. But in order to get the full bene.
fit of it we must put it on in proper
Ttyle-that is, we must put it on when
fresh burnt; the hotter the better. OLE
refuse lime that has become wet from
exposure is practically worthless. Il
must be so you can scatter it on like
flour, as evenly as possible, and ther
should be narrowed in without rain.
Where it is wet and lies over the field
in Jumps it never mixes with the sol
and apparently does no good.
The amount to be used depends or
the former fertility of the ground tc
which it is applied, the amount you
have on hand, the time you have tc
spare without making your crop late
etc. The old idea entertained by ouI
grandfathers, that too much would kill |
the ground, is extremely fallacious. |
We have used from 100 to 1000 bushels |
per acre and never lost crop on &C. /
count OF putting ON too much. We
usually use 800 or 400 bushels per acre,
and then before we SOW down in clover,
give Il top-dressing of manure, which
insures good catch Then let it lie
couple of years and put in corn, and
we never fail to get q crop.
Land that has been lined to any ex |
tent is scarcely ever troubled with |
worms, which is mo- small item some |
times. From past experience would |
say there is no better fertilizer for ar |
orchard than hot Lime 1t promotes |
the growth of the trees. Is destructive |
to insects. and surely benefits the fruit |
.Tenango (Pd.) Cor Ohio Farmer.